Student Affairs Research and Assessment
Bullington-Miller Earns Center Stage for Behind-the-Scenes Work
By Teagan Welch, Assistant Director of Communications for Student Affairs
Being front and center is something Jordan Bullington-Miller isn’t used to. In her day-to-day life, in fact, it’s quite the opposite. But this past spring, Bullington-Miller stepped to the forefront as the 2023-24 Behind-the-Scenes Award winner for the Division of Student Affairs.
“When I found out I won, I felt very seen,” she said. “I want to tell the story and I don't need to be in the spotlight to do it.”
Bullington-Miller has worked at UNC Charlotte for 14 years. Her official title is senior research associate for Student Affairs Research and Assessment (SARA), but her job duties include outreach to figure out what is and isn’t working as intended on campus.
“I talk to students and staff, and get feedback about their experiences at the University,” Bullington-Miller said. “We look at the programs we are providing and the impact those programs have on the Charlotte community,”
Bullington-Miller’s role at Charlotte is significant to understanding the student experience at the University. She and her colleagues work on impact projects that assess the pros and cons of different campus programs. Once that feedback is received, she analyzes the data and creates visuals to present her findings.
“I love constantly getting to interact with people on this campus and understand what it truly takes to be here,” Bullington-Miller said.
Bullington-Miller also has a passion for teaching. Along with her research, Bullington-Miller teaches a life design course for the LEADS program, where students are encouraged to think about life, and the struggles that come with it, in a different light.
“The whole premise of the class is your life is yours and you are the architect of it,” she said. “We talk about how we conceptualize work and how work is talked about in their homes. It’s so interesting because no student experience is the same, and yet there are these commonalities that we see which are so powerful.”
Bullington-Miller said she is grateful for the opportunity to teach a course like ‘life design’ while also managing her duties as a research associate. She attributes a large amount of her successes to the support she has received from her colleagues.
“I feel so happy and supported and valued,” she said. “To be encouraged to try new things and share new ideas is such a gift.”